Once celebrated as a symbol of transatlantic luxury, the RMS Queen Mary is now permanently docked in sunny Long Beach, California—and widely known as one of the most haunted places in the world. While some may question whether its ghost stories are just urban legends, countless visitors, paranormal investigators, and even historians agree: this former ocean liner is a resting place not only for the famous, but for the restless.
Today, the Queen Mary serves as a hotel, museum, and ghost tour hotspot—but her haunted reputation stretches across decades, oceans, and war. To understand how this regal ship became a ghostly legend, we have to dive deep into her history—and the tragic spirits said to still wander her decks.
A Royal Beginning: The History of the RMS Queen Mary
Commissioned by Cunard Line in 1930, the Queen Mary was launched in 1934 and made her maiden voyage in 1936, traveling between Southampton and New York. She was named—perhaps accidentally—after Queen Mary, wife of King George V. Legend has it that Cunard originally intended to name the ship after Queen Victoria to continue their "-ia" naming tradition (like Mauretania). But when seeking the King's blessing to name the vessel after "the greatest queen," he reportedly responded, "My wife will be delighted."
The Queen Mary was a marvel of her age: over 200 feet longer than the Titanic, nearly twice as heavy, and known for her opulence, speed, and celebrity clientele. She carried over two million passengers during her active career—including Sir Winston Churchill, who famously used her as a floating headquarters during World War II.
The Grey Ghost: A Wartime Legacy
During World War II, the Queen Mary was transformed from a luxury liner into a military troopship. Painted a dull grey for camouflage and stripped of all lavish décor, she was nicknamed the "Grey Ghost." Capable of transporting over 15,000 soldiers at a time, she became a crucial part of the Allied war effort.
But war leaves scars.
In 1942, the Queen Mary accidentally collided with her escort ship, the HMS Curacoa, slicing it in half. Following naval wartime protocol, the Queen Mary could not stop to rescue survivors. Over 300 sailors perished in one of the deadliest maritime accidents of the war.
Much of the Queen Mary's military record remains classified, but her postwar legacy—and the lingering energy of her wartime trauma—continues to draw paranormal interest to this day.
Docked in the Afterlife: Lady Mable's Prophecy
In 1967, after more than 30 years of service, the Queen Mary made her final voyage from Southampton to Long Beach, California. Fittingly, she departed on Halloween. There, she was permanently docked and transformed into a floating hotel, museum, and tourist attraction.
But her haunting may have been foreseen decades earlier.
In 1934, British psychic Lady Mable Fortiscue-Harrison predicted: "The Queen Mary will know her greatest fame and popularity when she never sails another mile or carries another fare-paying passenger."
She was right. Since being docked, the Queen Mary has become a world-renowned hotspot for paranormal activity—earning the nickname "The Ghost Ship of Long Beach."
A Summation of the Dead: Confirmed and Otherwise
Though many wartime incidents remain classified, at least 49 confirmed deaths occurred aboard the Queen Mary during her years of service. Most were from natural causes: heart attacks, strokes, and illness. But a handful of tragedies stand out—and seem to echo through the ship to this day.
Stateroom B340
With reports of bedsheets being pulled off, faucets turning on by themselves, shadowy figures, and unexplained knocking inside the walls, Stateroom B340 is considered the most haunted room on the ship. The room was closed to guests for years due to disturbing experiences but has since reopened with a paranormal package—complete with Ouija board and EMF detector for the brave.
The First-Class Pool
The now-drained First-Class Swimming Pool is said to be haunted by at least two spirits:
- A little girl named Jackie, thought to have drowned in the pool during the 1940s. Guests and guides report hearing her laughter and splashing.
- A woman in a 1930s-style bathing suit, who silently appears near the dressing rooms before vanishing into thin air.
No official records confirm these deaths, but the ghost stories persist.
Ghost Stories of the Queen Mary: The Most Famous Spirits
William Eric Stark – The Gin Mix-Up
In 1949, Senior Second Officer W.E. Stark mistakenly drank carbon tetrachloride, a toxic cleaning fluid, believing it was gin from the captain's cabinet. Despite feeling ill, he refused medical attention—and continued to drink real gin.
He died days later, just before his 31st birthday.
Guests now report hearing cabinets slamming late at night, often in unoccupied rooms. Some say Stark is still searching for the drink that killed him—forever stumbling through the ship in the dark.
John Pedder – Crushed by Door 13
In 1966, 18-year-old crew member John Pedder was tragically crushed by a watertight door during a routine safety drill. He died in Shaft Alley, a tight corridor deep in the ship's belly, at the infamous Door 13.
Visitors often report seeing a young man in work overalls lingering near the door. Others hear clanging metal or feel a sudden drop in temperature. Is John still trying to finish the job he started?
Other Ghostly Hotspots on the Ship
The Boiler Room – A place of intense heat and eerie activity. Visitors report breathing sounds and voices.
The Nursery – Ghostly cries of a baby have been heard, though no child is seen.
The Promenade Deck – Shadowy figures walk beside you... only to vanish when you turn your head.
Paranormal Investigations & Modern Hauntings
In the 1980s, members of the Orange County Society of Psychics held séances aboard the ship, and the Queen Mary has since become a staple for paranormal investigators. Shows like Ghost Adventures, The Dead Files, and Most Haunted have all explored the vessel.
You can now take part in Haunted Encounters Tours, Paranormal Investigations, and Overnight Ghost Hunts—all aimed at connecting with the spirits who still roam this once-great liner.
Final Thoughts: A Ship of Souls
More than just a relic of a bygone era, the Queen Mary is a living (and perhaps undead) testament to the lives and stories that passed through her corridors. From wartime ghosts to tragic accidents, playful spirits to grieving echoes, the Queen Mary offers a haunting journey like no other.
Whether you're visiting for the history, the hauntings, or just a brush with the unexplained, you may walk away with more than a souvenir—you may leave with a story of your own.
Because on the Queen Mary, the dead don't always disembark.
Jackie continues her eternal playtime in the first-class pool
The Lady in White attends eternal social gatherings
Phantom soldiers continue their wartime service
Officer Stark maintains his eternal watch over the ship
